Burn Permits

Open Burning Policy Administrative Policy

Azle Fire Department

Section 102.12Adopted: December 1999Revised January 2003

Background

City Ordinance number 795.03.01 prohibits open burning within the city limits of Azle without the expressed authorization of the Fire Chief acting under the authority of the City Council. This ordinance is written to protect the property of the citizens of Azle through reckless burning of brush.

Definitions

Land clearing OperationThe uprooting, cutting, or clearing of vegetation in connection with conversion for the construction of buildings, right-of-ways, residential, commercial or industrial development, or the clearing of vegetation to enhance property value, access or production. This does not include the maintenance burning of on-site property wastes such as fallen limbs, branches, leaves, or other wastes form routine property clean-up.

Sunrise / SunsetOfficial sunrise / sunset as set forth in the United States Naval Observatory tables from the National Weather Service.

Purpose

This policy will provide guidance for citizens requesting authorization to burn domestic trimmings within the city limits of Azle. Any citizens granted authorization to burn must adhere to these guidelines or may face penalties as set forth in Ordinance 795.03.01 Section 4 of the Azle Municipal Code.

Procedures

Request shall be made to the Fire Chief in writing or in person no later than one week prior to when the possible burn shall take place

The Fire Chief shall meet with the applicant and survey the area to be burned before any determination is made granting the burn

If the burn is granted the applicant will be given a copy of the burn policy and shall sign an acknowledgement that the applicant is familiar with the policy and agrees to its terms

Criterion for Open Burning

Burning will be limited to land clearing operations only

Materials shall be limited to domestic trimmings only

The size of the burn piles shall not exceed 20 feet by 20 feet by 6 feet in size without the expressed consent of the fire chief

Burning shall not commence prior to sunrise and shall be extinguished prior to sunset

There shall be no burn ban in effect for the applicable county

Sustained winds shall be 15 mph or less

Only one pile at a multi-pile site shall be burned at a time

There shall be no inhabited structures within 300 feet of the burn

The burn site shall have a cleared area of at least 100 feet in all directions around it